Military Career

Guest Post Wednesday: “You’ve Been SERB’d!”

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 11, 2019 11 Comments

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This guest post is brought to you by an Army officer who's been voluntold for the Selective Early Retirement Board. For you younger readers who've never heard of such a heinous process, the drawdown military is partyin' like it's 1994 all over again. (If you're interested in contributing a guest post, please see our guest posting … [Read more...] about Guest Post Wednesday: “You’ve Been SERB’d!”

Military Benefits After One Enlistment (part 2 of 2)

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: February 12, 2019 Leave a Comment

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(If you've found this page from a search engine, you'll want to read the first part of this two-part post.) This post answers the rest of a reader's question: "I was curious whether there are any benefits for people who got an honorable discharge after finishing the six-year obligation they signed up for but chose to not stay in until military … [Read more...] about Military Benefits After One Enlistment (part 2 of 2)

Joining the Military During a Drawdown

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: February 12, 2019 22 Comments

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A reader writes: Nords, can you talk to me about my son joining the military? Here are some things we are wondering about. Times are changing and the way it's run doesn't give the kids the options like they used to. For example we are told they are releasing them at four years and not letting them sign back up. A recruiter recommended that if … [Read more...] about Joining the Military During a Drawdown

Navy: women are joining the crews of VIRGINIA-class attack submarines

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 11, 2019 Leave a Comment

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Let me start this post with a couple of our household's famous naval sayings: "You are such a freakin' nuke." -- My spouse, USNA '83, to me, USNA '82, many times over the last 30 years. "You hear her? Someday soon you could be a freakin' nuke too..." -- Me to our daughter, NROTC '14. The Secretary of the Navy has formally announced the news … [Read more...] about Navy: women are joining the crews of VIRGINIA-class attack submarines

Should I Get Out of the Military, or Stick Around for Retirement?

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: February 5, 2019 4 Comments

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"Should I stay or should I go?" Yeah, I know, I can still hear that Clash hit rockin' Bancroft Hall's passageways at the Naval Academy. It "encouraged" the plebes to think about their choice to quit or stay, but the tune became my personal retention anthem for most of my career. A reader asks: I was wondering whether it would be possible for … [Read more...] about Should I Get Out of the Military, or Stick Around for Retirement?

Should You Join The Reserves or National Guard?

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: July 13, 2018 4 Comments

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Fair warning: this is a long post, even by my standards. Hey, it's Thursday, it's a holiday weekend, and (for a change) it's not financial. There's not even any math. But let's get to the post. Ironically for being one of my personal writing milestones, most of this one is written by other people! A couple months ago a Navy Reserve recruiter … [Read more...] about Should You Join The Reserves or National Guard?

Infographic on Drawing Down the Troops from Iraq

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: December 16, 2018 5 Comments

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First, some background. As a newbie niche personal-finance blogger I've learned a lot (more) about the seamy financial side of the blogosphere. A whole cottage industry is swapping links and posts for SEO & money, and it's going corporate. I've been surprised to learn how many bloggers have literally sold out to companies that … [Read more...] about Infographic on Drawing Down the Troops from Iraq

Military Drawdown Predictions

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: February 5, 2019 Leave a Comment

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A reader posted some great questions the other day: What do you think is going to happen with the “retired benefit” debate within the greater context of the DoD portion of the Federal Budget? Will it be another ... slash and burn? What does your financial sense say? The 1990s military drawdown was about the end of the Cold War. Remember the … [Read more...] about Military Drawdown Predictions

The Military Drawdown and Benefits Cuts

"Here we go again": welcome to the largest military drawdown since the end of the Cold War and DESERT STORM. The military shrank over 25% during that one, and systems tech has improved a lot since then. Remote sensors and unmanned aircraft weapons can't replace all of the boots on the ground, but they can sure make a dent in the billet … [Read more...] about The Military Drawdown and Benefits Cuts

Join the military to get rich and retire early?: the rest of the story

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 27, 2018 Leave a Comment

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(The first part of this post is over at Jacob Lund Fisker's Early Retirement Extreme blog.) Now for the rest of the story... When I was an impressionable young teen, my best friend's older brother was attending USNA. Every time he was home on leave he wore a Navy sweatshirt and a three-day beard. He'd have a cold beer in one hand and a hot chick … [Read more...] about Join the military to get rich and retire early?: the rest of the story